Nature vs. Nurture

Sociology 101

Nature vs. Nurture

You got your eye and hair color from your parents, but where did you get your personality and talents? Did you learn these from your environment or are you who you are because of your genes? While it's clear that physical characteristics are hereditary, the genetic pool is not very clear when it comes to an individual's behavior, intelligence, and personality. The nature vs. nurture debate has never been won. “We do not yet know how much of what we are is determined by our DNA and how much by our life experience. But we do know that both play a part” (about).

The nature versus nurture controversy is one of the oldest issues in psychology as well as sociology. “Some philosophers such as Plato and Descartes suggested that certain things are inborn, or that they simply occur naturally regardless of environmental influences. Other well-known thinkers such as John Locke believed in what is known as tabula rasa, which suggests that the mind begins as a blank slate” (about). As per what John Locke said everything that we are and all of our knowledge is determined by our experience. “For example, when a person achieves tremendous academic success, did they do so because they are genetically predisposed to be successful or is it a result of an enriched environment? Today, the majority of experts believe that behavior and development are influenced by both nature and nurture. However, the issue still rages on in many areas such as in the debate on the origins of homosexuality and influences on intelligence” (about).

Some scientists think that people behave as they do according to genetics or instincts. This is known as the "nature" theory of human behavior. Other scientists believe that people think and behave in certain ways because they are taught to do so. This is known as the "nurture" concept. Understanding of psychology as well as sociology has recently made it clear that both sides are partly right. Nature says we are who we...